Landrieu ‘out of patience’ on bill

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans, opened debate on a flood insurance bill Tuesday by threatening to get action on the legislation this week “the easy way or the hard way.”

“I want to put everybody here on notice that we have run out of patience,” Landrieu, a lead sponsor of the bill, said on the Senate floor. “We will debate until the cows come home.”

The Senate voted 86-13 Monday to move forward with the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, a bipartisan bill by Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez, of New Jersey, and Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson, of Georgia.

Their proposal would delay flood insurance premium increases for four years until Federal Emergency Management Agency officials complete a study of how to make the rates affordable. The bill would apply retroactively to rate hikes that took effect Oct. 1.

U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, who will oppose Landrieu for her Senate seat this year, has pushed a simliar measure in the House.

Senate supporters say they expect action this week, after working for more than a year to sell colleagues on the proposal.

“There’s no more time,” Landrieu said. “We’re voting on this this week.”